2010 Chile Earthquake

The earthquake was felt strongly in six Chilean regions that together make up about 80 percent of the country’s population. The earthquake triggered a tsunami which devastated several coastal towns in south-central Chile and damaged the port at Talcahuano. Tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries. The earthquake also generated a blackout that affected 93 percent of the country’s population and which went on for several days in some locations. President Michelle Bachelet declared a state of catastrophe and sent military troops to take control of the most affected areas. According to official sources, 525 people lost their lives, 25 people went missing and about 9% of the population in the affected regions lost their homes.

The humanitarian response to the 2010 Chile earthquake included national governments, charitable and for-profit organizations from around the world which began coordinating humanitarian aid designed to help the Chilean people.